Alleged Nowra armed robber refused bail

A man who attempted an armed robbery at an East Nowra service station and also broke into an aged care facility in the area was refused bail in Nowra Local Court.

A 44-YEAR-OLD Dubbo man charged over the attempted robbery of an East Nowra service station while armed with a knife and breaking into an aged care facility has appeared in Nowra Local Court.

David Pierce Hammond, of Fitzroy Street, Dubbo appeared before Magistrate Chris McRobert on Tuesday charged with assault with intent to rob armed with an offensive weapon, aggravated enter dwelling with intent to commit a serious indictable offence knowing persons were in the dwelling and with having goods in custody suspected of being stolen.

Police allege Hammond forced entry, through a rear door of the Jonathan Rogers House aged care facility in Wallace Street Nowra at around 9pm on Saturday.

He allegedly had his face concealed and confronted a resident, forcing her into her room while it was ransacked.

The woman was able to activate a silent duress alarm and the man left a short time later.

It is believed he then approached another resident, who had a dog, which barked at him.

Nursing staff confronted the man, who fled from the facility.

Police allege Hammond approached the Mobile Service Station on Kalandar Street, East Nowra about 2.20am on Sunday, attempting to rob the console operator, while armed with a knife.

The service station attendant armed himself with a metal bar striking Hammond in the arm before he allegedly fled empty handed.

Following investigations police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command identified Hammond and arrested him after executing a search warrant at a home in Kalandar Street about 8.40pm on Monday where he was allegedly found to be in possession of a number of items including a tablet computer, two 16 gig micro SD cards, a USB charger, internet dongles and a card reader, suspected of being stolen.

Hammond did not apply for bail when he appeared in Nowra Local Court, with bail refused. He was remanded in custody to reappear on October 7.